[SPOILERS] TheArchduke creates the final empire as Macedonia

[TheArchduke]

A quick, early turn 49 overview, at it makes more sense with the addition of Austrex (formerly Kandy).

   

A quick overview, tilted scores now that I have Austrex, though judging from milpower and suboptimals forces, the others are not thinking about an early CS conquest. Their loss.

Luthadel

My productive capital, the citrus definetly helped to fuel its growth

   

Urteau

Getting somewhere and working the iron for more production although I would prefer the culture.

   

Austrex

Getting a worker to help Urteau and take advantage of luxuries and my pantheon. Higher priority then getting the monument fixed imo (2 turns).

   

[TheArchduke]

So if anyone is reading this or my dedlurker is around, should I rush buy a worker at the capital to chop 2 forests for a quick GG project. I loose 2 swordsman upgrades that way, but I can always build more hetairois and I am very anxious to loose the first and only classical GG.

Why Emperor K is so interested in that first GG is puzzling to me, but maybe he fears for suboptimal as Alhambram does. Alhambram clearly wanted to screw me over with his war against suboptimal. He will probably do it again in a super cheesy move.

[CFCJesterFool]

So if anyone is reading this or my dedlurker is around, should I rush buy a worker at the capital to chop 2 forests for a quick GG project. I loose 2 swordsman upgrades that way, but I can always build more hetairois and I am very anxious to loose the first and only classical GG.

Why Emperor K is so interested in that first GG is puzzling to me, but maybe he fears for suboptimal as Alhambram does. Alhambram clearly wanted to screw me over with his war against suboptimal. He will probably do it again in a super cheesy move.

In this case I'd definitely buy the builder. You get science for building military units anyway (Paides thingy) so losing a few upgrades not the end of the world. You also don't seem to have a close military threat (e.g. player city next to your capitol.) The priority should be the GG. I'd even slot in a project at Urteau before starting the Basilikoi Paides there. You do get a small bit of gold per turn while doing encampment training so that will help recover some of the cost of the builder.

[TheArchduke]

Hmm, it seems suboptimal is out for my blood, he is still building military overtaking me in milpower. Good.

Judging from PBEM #3 he has wildly optimistic ideas of actually attacking me, I will keep off upgrading Hypasist for now, maybe I can goad him into attacking me. I need to finish two encampment projects.

I switch to Maneuvre as I will go for Hetairoi production as soon as I am done researching it.

In the south I take up defensive positions along the river, I am not ready to attack, yet.

   

[TheArchduke]

Is Suboptimal actually going to attack me? His Milpower increases and a horseman shows up in the east. I shuffle my 2nd archer in position, that should delay him.
Also I upgrade a warrior to enhance my defenses and prepare him to move east against the horseman.

I take the lead with 9 turns on that GG. Not fooling around I go with encampment training at Luthadel over Urteau (1turn less) even it wastes time. I want that GG.

More barb troubles, need to smoke out a camp NE.

   

[TheArchduke]

The more I thought about it the more my position is rather optimal for a builder civ.

Kandy is crazy defensive, with flood plains before the city with its - CS modifier.
I will probably need to upgrade another warrior to be on the safe side and upgrade that slinger.

Building workers for money from plantations and then we go Hetairoi.

Edit Reason: Workers build plantations, not warriors, though I wish.

[TheArchduke]

Fun with barbs, 2nd. Of course my citrus gets pillaged. If Emperor K snatches the GG next turn I am going to cry.  

   

Despite my heavy military builds and projects, I am at a solid 2nd place. What exactly are the others doing?
Suboptimal continues to waste his time with his maneuvring of horseman and building of them. Has he any idea what hetairoi GG boosted will do to those.

   

Thanks to him, my first doubly promoted archer, a true beast!

   

If Suboptimal has not optimally defensible terrain he is toast.

In about 20 turns I will have about 5 hetairoi, with a ram soon to follow, 3 archers and 3 hypasists to go toe to toe with him and I will.

Back out the popcorn people, TheArchduke will once again fight a stronger civ with mediocre military means!  

Sucess chance 50-50. I take it, we are Macedonia.

[CFCJesterFool]

What is the GG race looking like?

[TheArchduke]

As soon as I finish the GG project, it is mine.

I take it naturally in 7 turns, Emperor K in 11.

I may be overdoing it, but I am cutting it by 5 turns.

[TheArchduke]

This is bad.

Alhambram did not dow me for fun. I spotted a warrior heading north to Emperor K and he seems oblivious to it. Check that milpower. Ugh.

This can only mean that I will have to contend with a Persia which has conquered Poland before long, which is... not good.

67! Freaking 67 military, whilst Persia has 190 and Australia and me have 270+.

If Poland would have been my neighbour he would probably be dead soon with that military.

So, I need to accelerate my timetable.

Baring a wonder, I will get a GG next turn.

   

Luthadel will spit a builder, chop 2 forests, reconnect the citrues and mine the chopped hill whilst spitting out hetairoi.

   

Urteau will finish that builder and the big question here is if I want to delay hetairoi for the BP. The builder will chop the forest, connect the coffee and probably mine the hill NW.

   

Austrex will repair the monument, the granary and spit out a hetairoi as well with a ram afterwards, as Suboptimal is sure to build some walls.

   

The big question now is if I want to hedge my bets with a settler push in 15 turns or go full flung total war. Leaning towards the 2nd.  

I lean towards breaking through the west, where the terrain allows quicker movement, even though there is a 2-3 hex wide gap. The terrain in the east is terrible for offensive operations, one city of suboptimal on the southern end of the river with a wall and this gorge is closed.